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CNY SPEED SKATING CLUB IS ALL IN THE FAMILY

Our students
say it all.
Love of learning

is what it’s all about for students at
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Since 1876, our students have been discovering the
art of communication and education in a nurturing,
inclusive environment—at no cost to families.

Pediatric dentists help anxious young
patients with calming strategies.
CNY speed skaters turn to a Syracuse
club for coaching and camaraderie.
Make chocolate-covered strawberries
for a Valentine’s Day treat.
My son is 18. Now what?

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CONTENTS

4

FEBRUARY 2018

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Love
17, 19, 21

LEARN

22

PARTY & PRACTICE

23

FAMILY FUN CALENDAR

27

ADVERTISER INDEX
FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

3

FROM THE

THE PARENTING GUIDE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

FEBRUARY 2018 | ISSUE NO. 190

GENIUSES AT WORK
PUBLISHER/OWNER

EDITOR

What do we all need in February, when winter seems as if it will never end?
Distraction!
That’s what’s so great about Valentine’s Day—a frivolous holiday that
focuses on affection, chocolate, and the colors red and pink. Why not use the
occasion as an excuse to make some chocolate-covered strawberries with your
kid, as Laura Livingston Snyder did? (See her article and photos on page 16.)

Or consider Winter Break. Are you, perhaps, going to Disney World? On
page 6, Neil Davis has advice for you (and some humor you might appreciate,
even if you never plan to step foot in the Magic Kingdom).

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Aaron Scattergood

Maybe you could go in the opposite direction, and embrace (not literally,
we hope) the ice and cold. In this issue, reporter Kira Maddox talks to families
who belong to the Syracuse Speedskating Club, which has been introducing
kids and adults to the sport since 1958 (page 12).

For those of you in the mood for a more serious read, consider a young
person’s 18th birthday and what that means. Tammy DiDomenico has a few
thoughts on the subject (page 20).
All this, plus a calendar chock-full of activities and outings for kids and parents, starting on page 23.
Enjoy!

Sarah, Isabel and Matthew Crovella are members of the
Syracuse Speedskating Club, a group devoted to the fastest
human-powered sport.

Speed skaters wear helmets to protect in the event of falls.
Learn more about the sport and the SSC on page 12.
Advertising
is is
March
16. Calendar
Advertising deadline
deadline for
forApril
March
Feb. 15.
Calendar deadline
deadline for
forApril
Marchis isMarch
Feb. 2.3.
Design by Rachel Barry
Photos by Michael Davis

Off to the
Magic Kingdom
You, too, can spend a ton and have some
fun at Disney | BY NEIL DAVIS JR.

S

o you finally caved. Every parent who can (almost) afford
to does, eventually. There’s only so much begging you can
tolerate before you give in and say those exalted words.
“We are going to Disney World!”

That’s actually the toughest part, that decision to invest half
your savings in a surreal, weeklong party hosted by a bunch of
people dressed as animals. The rest is easy: plane tickets, park
tickets, hotel room, restaurant reservations. I didn’t say it would
be cheap. But who needs a new furnace anyway? At least you’ll be
warm for those days in the Florida sun.
If you’re not sure the nonstop dancing, show tunes, fireworks
and parades will be worth it, try to see it from a child’s perspective.
When you are 8 years old, a visit to the Magic Kingdom is the beall, end-all of entertainment. It’s the equivalent of simultaneously
attending the Super Bowl and Comic-Con, accompanied by Oprah
and Seinfeld, with an open bar and free nachos. In other words,
instant memories.

“ 270 minutes?

How many
days is that? ”

Plus, all the food is shaped
like Mickey Mouse. All right,
maybe not all of it. But I
challenge you to make it home
without eating at least one
Mickey-shaped snack. It can’t
be done.

If you’re a first-timer or even if you haven’t been in a while,
there is much to know about a Disney vacation. I have managed to
survive three Disney vacations in the last five years, and it didn’t
happen by accident.
The last trip involved 16 people, one large house, seven hot days,
five different parks, four rental cars, three traffic jams, two thunderstorms, and a partridge in a pear tree. Actually, instead of the
partridge, there was a group photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
Finding a partridge might have been easier.

For one thing, make a game plan. No, you shouldn’t map out
every minute of every day. In fact, the unexpected things can be
half the fun. During our week, we were accosted by storm troopers, affectionately mauled by Winnie the Pooh, and serenaded by a
man with a ukulele.

6

BECAUSE I SAID SO

Between all that, we adhered to a predetermined schedule of
ride passes, shows and restaurant reservations. There is more to
see and do in Disney World than anyone can squeeze into one
week. Preparing an agenda ahead of time will enable you to prioritize the events that matter to you and your family, while allowing
for the inexplicable amount of time you will spend in restrooms
and gift shops.
continued on page 8

RACHEL BARRY ILLUSTRATION

I’m not sure if this all makes me an expert or just a glutton for
punishment. But here’s what I’ve learned: Planning ahead is key,
and every bit helps. A little last-minute research can go a long way
toward maxing out the merriment. Every minute in Disney World
is meant to be an immersive experience filled with wonder and
surprise, and there are simple ways to work that to your advantage.

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FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

7

continued from page 6

BEGIN BY GOING ONLINE. There is a wealth of Disney insider
knowledge on the internet. Two websites I found helpful are disneytouristblog.com and allears.net. Also, if you’re like me and you consider food to be part of the adventure, check out disneyfoodblog.com. It
will fill you in on where and what to eat.
Read up on all the tips and tricks that might save you time, money
or headaches. For instance, water is free at Disney World. Yes, you can
pay $3 for a bottle of Dasani, but free iced water is available to guests
anywhere that fountain drinks are sold. Over the course of a hot, humid week, this could add up to your air fare back to Syracuse.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE TRANSPORTATION.

From buses to boats to monorails, Disney has mastered the art of moving people from place to place. They will even get your luggage from
the plane to your Disney hotel room without you ever touching it. In spite of
all this, wear comfortable shoes. The storybook fantasy is simulated, but the
walking is very real. Also, allow one rest day at the pool mid-trip to alleviate
the stress of the 12 hours you will spend on your feet every other day.

DISCOVER WHAT’S NEW IN THE PARKS. Those
attractions are always the hot tickets. On our trip, the Frozen
Ever After ride in EPCOT tested our determination with a
90-minute wait, at which point we were ready to just “Let it
go.” This turned out to be nothing compared to the new Avatar
experiences in Animal Kingdom, where the wait times exceeded all reason and tested our math skills.
“270 minutes? How many days is that?”
That figure is genuine, and it should scare you into learning Disney’s FastPass+ system. It
allows you to skip the line at three attractions per day in a single park. You can reserve these
up to 60 days in advance through the My Disney Experience app on your phone. The app can
also manage your restaurant reservations and the rest of your schedule.
The technology doesn’t end there, as you can then link all of those plans to your MagicBand.
This is the plastic, wearable wristband that connects you to Disney World in fantastically convenient ways. It opens your hotel room door, instantly transmits photos taken by
Disney photographers to your phone app, makes rides personally interactive,
and allows you to charge purchases to a credit card with a wave of your
hand—like magic.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENJOY YOURSELF. Be a kid
again. Plan on your IQ dropping 20 points the instant you
walk through the gates. It’s all part of the same illusion that
allows you to believe that $35 is a reasonable price for a
T-shirt. My advice is to accept it and indulge a little. Soon
enough, you will be back in New York, resuming your regularly scheduled, less-magical life, wondering why none of
your food is shaped like mice.

8

BECAUSE I SAID SO

RACHEL BARRY ILLUSTRATIONS

Neil Davis works at Bristol-Myers Squibb and lives
in Liverpool with his daughter, Sadie.

9

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etting a child who is fearful
of the dentist’s chair to submit to an exam or procedure
requires a compassionate,
thoughtful approach.
Those who have mastered the art of
calming nervous kids have often completed an additional two to three years in their
pediatric specialty beyond the requirements for practicing general dentistry.
The reasons for a child’s fear can be irrational, but anxiety can also spring from a
bad experience with a dentist or hygienist
who did not have a gentle touch. Kids who
are shy or intellectually disabled present
additional challenges.
At Little Jaws Big Smiles pediatric
dentistry in DeWitt, the initial approach to
any child with chair anxiety comes down
to three main ideas: Tell, show, and do.
“Every kid is different,” says Tansy
Schoonmaker, a pediatric dentist at the
practice. “But the parents let us know
ahead of time, or our assistants can spot
(fear) right away. When they walk in, we
already know what to do.”

10

HEALTH

The dentist immediately tells the young
patient what she is going to do, which
always starts with having a look inside
the mouth. Then she demonstrates on a
puppet with teeth, using a mirror to get a
closer look inside the puppet’s mouth.
“Half of the time,” Schoonmaker says,
“that works right away.”
The dentists also allow a child to sit on
his parent’s lap if he is afraid to get into
the chair.
As with many pediatric dental practices,
there are televisions on the ceiling at Little
Jaws. The distraction helps ease anxiety. If X-rays are taken, all of the images
are shown and explained to the child,
Schoonmaker says.
When it comes time for a procedure, the
practice offers a range of options to keeping the patient calm, from headphones
for listening to music, to scented nitrous
oxide medication (bubble gum and fruit
are choices).
“It’s like they are dreaming, but they can
wake up,” Schoonmaker says. “About 70

percent of our patients who have anxiety
are treated by that method.”
If nitrous oxide doesn’t work, then parents can consider sedation options. For the
most extreme cases, a child may need to be
completely asleep. That would require an
outpatient facility that can provide general
anesthesia. Little Jaws does not offer sedation, but personnel there can work with
parents to find a provider and facility that
fits their needs, Schoonmaker says.
Aside from the initial tell, show, do
approach and the drug options, pediatric dentists are trained to communicate
differently with anxious patients. They
often talk very quietly, so the patient has
to listen more carefully, and calms down in
the process.
For autistic patients, the main concept
is repetition. The child might visit the
dentist’s office and walk around a few
times before he or she is eventually relaxed
enough to get into the chair.
“Our goal is to have all of our kids leave
here comfortable and happy,” Schoonmaker says.

She says the demand for pediatric dentists
is growing locally and nationally. The use of
sippy cups, nighttime bottles for infants, and
snacking between meals have all played roles
in that trend.
“It’s frustrating because they have found
that snacking can be good for metabolism,
which is obviously important in dealing with
obesity issues. But it is also bad for our teeth,”
Schoonmaker says.

iSTOCK PHOTO

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, more than $40 billion is spent
in the United States annually treating cavities.
In its annual “State of Little Teeth” report, the
AAPD indicated that tooth decay, if left untreated, can result in life-threatening infections, significant pain, chewing difficulties, poor speech
articulation, poor sleep habits, low self-esteem,
social ostracism and poor school performance.
The report also said putting off a child’s first
visit to the dentist until they are toddlers is a
mistake: Research has found that kids who have
not had an oral examination until age 2 or 3 are
more likely to require restorative and emergency
visits. Between 5 percent and 10 percent of U.S.
children under age 3 have oral health issues,
and about 60 percent of U.S. children have had
at least one cavity by age 5. That includes 40
percent of children who have had a cavity when
they enter kindergarten.
Early education and intervention are key to
preventing cavities, the report says, but one of

the major impediments to improved oral
health nationally is, in some areas, a shortage
of pediatric dentists who accept Medicaid. Currently, about 70 percent of pediatric dentists
see Medicaid patients. At those practices, Medicaid beneficiaries represent about 25 percent
of the patients.
The number of practicing dentists, whether
general dentistry or pediatric dentistry, is growing in the United States, according to the report.
The AAPD forecasts that by 2020, about 5,600
dentists will be graduating from training programs annually, or about 800 more than
in 2010.

315-373-0869

There are about 6,100 pediatric dentists practicing in the United States right now, and the
acceptance rate of credentialed dentists applying
to pediatric training programs remains at about
60 percent.
In addition to their ability to communicate
with anxious young patients and render anesthesia, pediatric dentists also play a valuable role in
educating parents about better oral health and
dental care, the report says. At the first visit, for
example, parents may learn about the dangers
of fruit juices and other sugary drinks, resulting
in a change of dietary habits that will benefit a
child over his or her lifetime.

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600 Oswego Street
Liverpool, New York 13088

(315) 453-2200

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FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

11

The Fast

and the
Frozen
Local speed skating
club gives families
a common pursuit
STORY BY KIRA MADDOX
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAVIS

12

FEATURE STORY

bout 10 children
teeter around
Sunnycrest Ice
Rink in Syracuse’s
Eastwood neighborhood. Each
is a tiny padded puff in a brightcolored ski jacket and bicycle
helmet, some holding on to plastic milk crates as they tentatively
skate laps around the ice.

A

hard enough, you can feel your skate dig
into the ice and almost try and brake it,”
says 16-year-old club member Matthew
Crovella. “For me, that’s the best feeling,
because you know you’re putting down all
this pressure and flying around the corner,
and you’re somehow doing it yourself.”
Matthew has been doing speed skating
since early elementary school, along with
his sisters, Sarah, age 15, and Isabel, 13.
All three belong to the club.

Coach Gretchen Byrne Burns blows a
whistle and asks them to come back to the
center. She crouches to demonstrate the
best position for speed—“stand like a monkey, not a shower”—and reminds them to
think about pushing the milk crate away
from them rather than leaning on it.

Speed skating originated in Scandinavia,
Northern Europe and the Netherlands
around the 13th century as a way to deliver
messages between villages via frozen
canals and rivers. It became a competitive
sport in the 1860s and has been an Olympic event since 1924.

The kids are members of the Syracuse
Speedskating Club. Speed skating is a
competitive sport where skaters race
around a rink, seeing who can get the
best time. It’s believed to be the fastest
human-powered, non-mechanical sport in
the world. The club is the only one of its
kind in Central New York, with members
from Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins
counties, among others.

The Syracuse club was founded in 1958
by Jack Byrne—Burns’ father—and Harold
Harrington. The club has three nationally
certified coaches—Burns, Klaus Doelle
and Cherise Wilkins—and holds two
practice sessions twice a week for about
an hour each night. The earlier session is
for beginners and skaters under age 12,
while the later one is for people with more
experience to prepare them for competitive skating.

“Sometimes if you’re pushing yourself

Burns has skated since she was 5 and
went on to join U.S. National Speedskating. She stepped away from the sport in
1980 but got back into it when she had her
son and wanted to get him to skate. She
began coaching for the club in 1991 and
was named U.S. Speedskating Development Coach of the Year in 2002.
“I got a lot out of speed skating, so
this is a way to just try to give back,” she
says. Now she gets more excited when
her students succeed—like when Wilkins,
who was one of Burns’ students, went to
Nationals for the first time—than when she
used to.
“Seeing them do something I taught
them makes you say, ‘Wow, I really did
make a difference.’”
Her father used to take Burns and her 10
siblings ice skating throughout Syracuse
every weekend. During Syracuse’s brutal
winters, the ponds at Onondaga and Kirk
parks would freeze over and the city would
open them for skating. With such a large
family, Burns says she was happy to have
something they could do as a group.
The Syracuse Speedskating Club tries
to emulate that same feeling, putting an
emphasis on family and unity.
continued on page 14

t

Isabel, Matthew, Paul and Sarah Crovella (opposite page) are members of Syracuse Speedskating Club.
Gretchen Byrne Burns (above), daughter of the club’s co-founder, coaches a session with beginning skaters.
FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

13

continued from page 13
Sarah Crovella appreciates the togetherness. “We all have done
different sports: Matthew’s done crew, I’ve done soccer, Isabel has
done running. This is one thing that we can all share,” she says.
The older children from session two will sometimes skate during
session one to act as mentors to the younger skaters, and generations of club members regularly come back for special events—like
the holiday potluck they had at the end of December.
Burns’ 3-year-old granddaughter is learning to speed skate. In
past years the club took road trips together up to Lake Placid to
skate on the outdoor Olympic rink.

“ Our club motto

is, ‘Feel great,
speed skate,’
and I think that
pretty much
sums it up. ”

“The feeling on days like today
where the snow is falling and
you’re out on the ice, skating
as fast as you can, it’s just this
incredible feeling of being free,”
says Sarah. “You don’t have to
worry about anything in that
moment. You’re just focused on
skating.”

When practice is over, the
children head back into the
building’s warmup room to meet
their parents and get ready to go home. Andrew Knopka, who was
out on the ice helping Burns during session one, takes a seat on a
bench. His children—Hannah, age 5, Grace, 7, and Ricky, 11—wait
for him to help unlace their skates and get their sneakers on.
Knopka makes a 45-minute drive to Syracuse from Rome once
a week so his kids can come to practice and participate in the club.
Ricky joined the club about three years ago after having tried ice
hockey. Ricky has impulsive attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and was born with a condition that caused small bones and a
small head. Although he is four years older, he’s the same height as
his 7-year-old sister. His condition made contact-heavy ice hockey
a challenge.
“We were looking for other things to do for him, and we stumbled on this,” Knopka says.
Often children who are drawn to speed skating are the same
ones who may have trouble in school because they can’t sit still,
Burns says. They like to be moving, to go fast, and they lean toward individual activities rather than having to play with a team.
The club is a place for them to learn something by watching and
doing without having to worry about getting in trouble.
“I’m just trying to get kids away from computers and give them
fresh air and something to do during winter.”
When father and son came to their first practice, Burns asked
Andrew Knopka if he knew how to skate. When he said yes, she
encouraged him to grab a pair of skates and come out on the ice to
help. He’s now on the club’s board of directors. Helping at practices gives him a chance to see the work up close and reinforce the
techniques at home or at local open skates.
As Knopka gets his children ready to head home, Burns walks
around the room, giving words of encouragement and something
to keep in mind for next time—crouching with their hands on their
knees to remember to stay low, or holding a water bottle between
their legs so they aren’t too far apart on the ice.
“We all get along and help each other every week,” Knopka
says. In the background, skaters begin to sing “Happy Birthday”
Competitive SSSC skaters (top photo) in the warmup room
at Sunnycrest Ice Rink in Syracuse; skaters wear helmets
and goggles (middle photo), in addition to other protective
gear; new skaters use buckets for balance (bottom photo).

14

FEATURE STORY

to fellow member Cassie. She brought in
doughnuts to celebrate.

and had no trouble borrowing a spare from
another skater.

There’s a similar feeling in the larger
speed skating community. Matthew, Sarah
and Isabel skate at the competitive level;
each has a spot in their room where they
hang their medals and trophies. They
placed in last year’s Empire State Winter
Games and will be competing at the Children’s National Short-Track competition in
Saratoga Springs in March.

The Syracuse Speedskating Club members wear outfits that fit tightly to reduce
drag, and protective gear is worn as well.
Each member wears a mouth guard along
with knee pads and shin and neck guards
to prevent injury after a fall. The uniforms
are made of Kevlar and are cut-resistant
in case a skater gets clipped by a blade;
speed skating blades are much longer and
thinner than those used in figure skating
and ice hockey.

Three years ago, Matthew and Sarah got
to compete in an international competition
in Austria, where they skated alongside
other kids from places like Spain and the
Netherlands. Sarah took home a silver
medal and Matthew earned a bronze.
“That was my most memorable moment:
finally seeing all the work pay off, especially in an international competition,”
Matthew says.
Despite the competitions, speed skating remains a smaller, niche sport in New
York. Young skaters will usually see the
same people at local races.
“When you’re on the ice, you’re racing,
but as soon as you get off the ice you’re
friends again,” says Sarah. “It’s like normal
hanging out, getting lunch together. It’s a
really open community and really close.” A
few times Isabel forgot to pack her uniform

Before every practice, club members help
bring out large pads to line the corners of
the rink walls, in case skaters lose control
going around the rink.
About eight kids, including the Crovellas,
glide around the ice as the second session
begins. Unlike the children in session one,
the session two kids have already mastered staying low and keeping their legs
close. Burns helps the skaters fine tune:
keeping their heads up, making sure their
weight stays centered, and controlling their
muscles to push out from their hips. They’ll
need it to improve their personal times.
Matthew’s best time in the 500 meter is
49.19 seconds, Sarah’s is 52.4 seconds, and
Isabel’s is 55.3 seconds.
“A lot of kids sometimes are discouraged

by their place at bigger races,” Isabel says.
“They may think, ‘Oh, I only got seventh
overall,’ but that actually could be really
good considering the number of good skaters who are there.”
Toward the end of the night, Burns
breaks the young skaters off into pairs.
They begin at opposite ends of the rink and
get into position, legs bent with one skate
forward. At the whistle, they take off across
the ice, arms moving in time with their
strides. Regardless of the outcome, they’ll
leave with a sense of accomplishment—
Isabel says they always do.
People should not let the mindset of “I
can’t skate” stop them, she says. They’ve
all seen many members come in with little
to no experience who end up being strong
with fast times.
Sarah agrees. For most people, once they
put on the skates and get a taste for the
speed, it clicks.
“Our club motto is, ‘Feel great, speed
skate,’ and I think that pretty much sums it
up,” says Sarah.
The other Crovella kids smile and nod.
“That,” Matthew adds, “and, ‘Go hard,
turn left.’”
Kira Maddox is a staff writer for Family Times
and the Syracuse New Times.

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FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

15

LAURA LIVINGSTON SNYDER PHOTO

Sweets for the Sweet

Chocolate-covered strawberries are a great Valentine’s Day project | BY LAURA LIVINGSTON SNYDER

B

eing original on Valentine’s Day is
not particularly easy. Millions of
cards are exchanged and billions
of dollars are spent on flowers
each Feb. 14. So, forget construction paper
and overpriced petals. Instead, get the
kids in the kitchen to make sweet treats:
chocolate-covered strawberries!

and can be measured in the amount desired. Choose at least two different flavors.

SUPPLY LIST

Presentation is just as important as
taste. Purchase plastic heart-shaped plates
and white paper doilies. For those who
wish to give a bouquet of “roses,” buy
lollipop sticks.

Choose a package of fresh strawberries.
Soft, green leaves and shiny red skin indicate fruit that has recently been picked.
Keep in mind the biggest berries may not
necessarily be the juiciest. Avoid overripe
berries that will lose their shape and become mushy when handled.
Pick out about a pound or so of chocolate. Pre-packaged morsels and chunks
from the baking section of the grocery
store can even include flavors like caramel,
peanut butter and butterscotch. I prefer
chocolate mixtures that can be purchased
in craft stores and Walmart. These chocolate wafers (dark, milk, white) can also be
found in the bulk section of grocery stores
16

Plain chocolate-covered strawberries are
tasty and easy enough for small children
to help make. To get into designer mode,
gather coconut flakes, crushed cookies or
pretzels, mini M&Ms, nuts, and sprinkles
of all kinds. The choices are endless.

Use wax or parchment paper over a
cookie sheet for the dipped strawberries
to set on.

GOING SOFT
Wash and dry the strawberries, leaving
the calyces (pronounced kale-le-sees)
intact. These are the stems and leaves.
Have your child learn this name so he
can impress his teacher.
Since melted chocolate can harden at
room temperature, it’s best to have all your

TOGETHER TIMES

items out and ready to go before beginning.
The single most important rule is to not let
the chocolate seize or get scorched. Both
result in thick lumps that cannot be fixed.
Seizing is when chocolate is mixed with
an incompatible ingredient. Tempering
pure chocolate is tricky, so I suggest sticking with a chocolate mixture, such as Merckens wafers, which contains emulsifiers
and milk solids that can handle extracts
and colorings that are probably already in
your pantry. Pure chocolate must use only
oil-based (not water-based) ingredients,
which are more readily found in craft
stores. These flavorings are very concentrated, so only a drop or two is needed.
To avoid scorching, the chocolate cannot
burn. It can be melted in the microwave
or on the stove in a double boiler. (A pot
of water under a pot of chocolate, which
warms indirectly, reduces the chance of
the candy getting too hot.) My son and I
use the microwave because it’s the easiest
and safest way. As long as the morsels
are in a microwavable bowl that is taken
continued on page 18

LEARN

17

LAURA LIVINGSTON SNYDER PHOTO

1

continued from page 16
out often and stirred, nothing should burn. Don’t forget the pot
holders!
Start off with about a cup of chocolates in the microwave for
30 to 40 seconds. They will melt on the bottom first so I usually check to see if they’ve softened, then put the dish back in for
another 30 seconds.
Once you’re able to actually stir, cut the length in the microwave to about 20 seconds at a time. Add another half-cup of chocolate if needed and repeat. Don’t try to get all the pieces to melt
on their own. When the majority is smooth and glossy, stir so the
warm temperatures melt the rest. Do this for the other flavors.
Food coloring or flavors can now be added.

2
3

TAKING THE PLUNGE
Coating strawberries is a bit of trial and error. It’s important
to gently pull up the leaves so they don’t get covered, but don’t
hold by the leaves because the fruit gets heavy and the greens will
rip off. I found it helpful to do a berry or two, so my son could
see what I wanted him to do. Holding the strawberry at the top
will allow the most control—and besides, the whole fruit doesn’t
necessarily need to be covered.
Dip the strawberry into the melted chocolate by using a front,
back, side, side motion. It’s best to do it fairly quickly to avoid
chocolate buildup. I try to let it drip or wipe the bottom across
the edge of the bowl. Hold the berry over another small bowl
and sprinkle toppings immediately, if desired. Allow to set on
the parchment paper. If the bowl of chocolate starts to get lumpy
or loses its gloss, simply pop it back in the microwave for a few
seconds to re-melt.
For any dipping that doesn’t come out just right, my professional suggestion is to eat the evidence and start over with
another berry.

MAKE IT MARVELOUS
Once you find your groove, it’s fun to get creative. To try a fancy
swirl, dip with the primary chocolate, drizzle the secondary and
use a toothpick to make designs. Make tiny chocolate hearts onto
the wax paper and, when set, “glue” them onto the strawberry
using a small bit of chocolate.
Adding a different flavor or color chocolate to an already dipped
strawberry isn’t difficult, just allow the first chocolate to set. It will
be dull instead of shiny, and firm when picked up. Drizzling in
diagonal lines looks professional and is a fast way to decorate.

AWE-INSPIRING ARRANGEMENTS

Creating this edible gift is fun and easy, yet it still looks elegant.
It’s also less expensive than ordering anywhere. And since it’s
homemade, it’s made with love.
Laura Livingston Snyder is a
writer and mother of four
who lives north of Syracuse.
She blogs at freshapplesnyder.com.

18

TOGETHER TIMES

LAURA LIVINGSTON SNYDER PHOTOS

4

No need to wrap this present: Artfully arrange berries on a
pretty plate and top with a bow. To make “roses,” carefully poke a
lollipop stick through the stem. Wrap them in tissue paper inside
a box with tulle, baby’s breath or ferns. For a display, poke the
sticks into floral Styrofoam inside a stout vase, and add ribbons. I
used a potato inside a decorative Chinese takeout box with tissue
paper. Eat the same day for the best flavor and freshness.

February Break

Vacation camp
A safe, loving
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Where teachers
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any news stories in recent
years have highlighted how
long young people are taking
to achieve adult milestones.
As my older son and many of his friends
have hit the age of 18, I’ve had a front
row seat to this reality.
In the weeks leading up to my son’s
birthday, I thought about what things were
like back when I turned 18. My parents,
and others of their generation, generally
expected behaviors that signified adulthood.
Once a person came of age, she needed
to meet certain standards: to work, pay
rent (if not in college), pay for her own car,
and at least contribute toward car insurance. “Welcome to adulthood!” I can still
hear my mother say. Nobody reminded me
about my college application deadlines,
and I had no electronic gadgets to alert me
about my work or sports schedules.
Today’s older teens, it seems, are far
less eager to jump into the sea of adult responsibility. Few of my son’s friends have
part-time jobs. Those who have cars generally had them given or leased for them;
their gas consumption is lumped into one
big monthly “family” bill. Their phones
are also part of a “family” plan. And, as
offspring of involved (or helicopter) parents, they have little need for alarm clocks
or planners because their moms basically
manage their schedules for them.
Then there is the life-skills department.
My husband and I have been successful in
instilling some sense of financial responsibility and independence in our son. But
I must take the initiative in supporting his
late-blooming interest in things like doing
laundry, cooking for himself, making his
own dental and medical appointments,
and not allowing his room to become a
toxic waste dump.
After years of taking an “I can do it
faster, so I’ve got this” approach to such
aspects of childrearing, I’ve spent a lot of
time over the past couple of years regret-

20

ting that approach—and have attempted a
course correction that has been painful for
all involved.
This is not an original observation on
my part. Robert Epstein, founder and
director emeritus of the Cambridge Center
for Behavioral Studies in Massachusetts,
has studied how American culture promoted the gradual infantilization of young
people. He traced the roots of this trend
back to the late 1800s.
Epstein writes that parents treating
their adolescents like children has resulted
in their acting more like children. Such adolescents also spend less time with adults
and more time alone or with their peers.
Epstein suggests that as each generation
lowers its expectations of its young adults,
the bar for their own aspirations falls.
In short, when we expect less from our
young people, that’s what they think we
want from them, and that’s what they give.
Adolescents need to be allowed to face
adult challenges in order to nurture their
ability to actually be adults. This cannot
happen when parents micromanage every
aspect of their teens’ lives.
This lengthening of adolescence is not
unique to my son’s circle, nor does it seem
to be a phase that is winding down. Our
society seems to be collectively encouraging this extension of childhood. Where
once young people rushed to find posthigh school or college employment to get
their own benefits, the Affordable Care
Act (signed into law in 2010) required
insurance providers to offer dependent
coverage until age 26. Many parents of
college-aged children considered this a
victory, as relatively few recent graduates
can secure a job that provides, or enables
employees to purchase, health and dental
benefits.
Marriage has gradually become less
desirable to young adults, and some
researchers contend that it can—at least
partially—be traced to parents’ tendency
to overschedule our children, eliminating

BEEN THERE

opportunities for free play with other nearby children. Those who don’t get chances
to develop social skills within mixed peer
groups as children are less likely to date
as teenagers. Those who don’t develop
relationship skills as teenagers are likely
to marry later as adults—if at all. (Let’s not
even get started on the recent trend among
pediatric psychologists to label the years
from 18 to 25 as “late adolescence.”)
Turning 18 still comes with its share of
life changes—most of them legal. These
teens can commit to military service, vote,
be tried as adults for felonies, buy lottery
tickets, keep their medical records out of
their parents’ hands, and marry. But it’s
getting harder and harder to find 18-yearolds, or even 25-year-olds, who really feel
like they are the adults we think we were at
those ages.
I recently asked several of my son’s
friends what they were most looking forward to as their 18th birthday approached.
Most said something along the lines of
“full driving privileges.” Some expressed
concern about how their age would be
viewed in a court of law—their parents
having warned them how seemingly minor
offenses become much less minor after an
18th birthday.
Talking to other parents of teenagers
and perusing the websites of various
psychological journals, it’s clear that there
is lots of blame to go around with little in
the form of solutions for changing course.
Now that my own son is 18, I can only
hope that I have gotten out of his way
enough for him to have developed some
self-confidence and—perhaps one day —
maturity.
Award-winning writer Tammy
DiDomenico lives in DeWitt
with her husband and two sons.

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Circle Children’s Theatre presents an interactive
version of the tale, in which children in the audience help Alice play croquet with the Queen, color
the roses red, and join in the Wonderland fun.
Children are invited to dress as their favorite fairy
tale character. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $6. Reservations recommended:
(315) 449-3823.

St. Margaret’s Open House. Noon-2 p.m.
Learn about programs at the Catholic school,
including a gifted and talented program for grades
3-6. St. Margaret’s School, 201 Roxboro Road,
Mattydale. (315) 455-5791. Stmargaretschool.org.

month, kids age 5 and up can make items related to
Black History Month. At each session, make something different: an African necklace, tribal masks,
and a spirit drum. Beauchamp Branch Library, 2111
S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3395.

People of all ages (kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult) can go on an informative,
family-friendly walk. Rice Creek Field Station, 193
Thompson Road, 1 mile south of SUNY Oswego’s main campus, Oswego. Call to check trail
conditions the morning of the hike: (315) 312-6677.
oswego.edu/ricecreek.

Make Marble Roller Coasters. 10 a.m.-noon.
Kids in preschool and up can use pipe insulation,
tape and other supplies to make and test a roller
coaster for marbles. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. Registration requested:
(315) 699-2032. nopl.org.

Children age 6 and up can break out the Legos
and hear a story for inspiration. Central Library,
KidSpace, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315)
435-1900.

FAMILY TIMES FEBRUARY 2018

23

Sunday, Feb. 4

Wednesday, Feb. 7

Cinderella. 1:30-3:30 p.m. All ages can enjoy Rag

First Steps. 9:30 a.m.; also Feb. 14, 21 & 28.

Tag Theatre’s version of “Cinderella,” with themes
of inner beauty and staying true to who you are.
Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool.
Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

Chemsations. 2 p.m.; also Feb. 18. Local high

Children who are good walkers, up to age 3, can
with a caregiver take part in a program with music,
movement, crafts and more. Fayetteville Free
Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315)
637-6374. fflib.org.

Trading Card Games. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Young

people ages 12-18 can join TCG Player for an
afternoon of games and prizes. Central Library,
TeenSpace, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315)
435-1900.

20 & 27. Children from infants to age 5, accompanied by caregivers, can practice the skills they’ll
need for school success at a special storytime.
Mundy Branch Library, 1204 S. Geddes St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3797.

20 & 27. Children of all ages and their families can
drop in, read together, play a board game, make a
craft or engage in other activities. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. (315)
672-3661. maxwellmemoriallibrary.org.

Alice in Wonderland. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 27

Black History Month Celebration. 6:30-7:30

Preschool Book Club. 10:30 a.m.; also Feb.

p.m. Kids age 5 and up with a caregiver can learn
about some influential African Americans and help
make a poster to hang in the library. NOPL North
Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse.
Free. (315) 458-6184. nopl.org.

15 & 22. Children ages 3-5 can bring a parent or
guardian to read a book together and then talk
about things happening in the book. Maxwell
Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free.
(315) 672-3661. maxwellmemoriallibrary.org.

Multiple Moms Mingle. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monthly
meeting of mothers and expectant mothers of
multiples. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton
St., Syracuse. For more details and to reserve if you
wish to attend: multiplemomsmingle.com.

Montessori Open House. 2-4 p.m. Find out
about the school that serves ages 3 through 12
with its preschool and elementary education based
on Montessori philosophy and methods. Montessori School of Syracuse, 155 Waldorf Parkway,
DeWitt. (315) 449-9033. mssyr.org.
New School Open House. 2-4 p.m. Explore

Monday, Feb. 12
Art Project. 3:15 p.m. Children ages 5-12 can
take part in a trivia game about significant African-American women in history, then make a work
of art. Mundy Branch Library, 1204 S. Geddes St.,
Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3797.

mothers, ages 13-21, with children under 6 enjoy
a faith-based program with fun, food and activities
while their children are cared for by the childcare
program. Liverpool First United Methodist Church,
604 Oswego St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 569-2542.

Happy Birthday, Frederick Douglass. 3:30
p.m. Children age 5 and up can make crafts and
take part in activities to honor the 200th birthday
of the anti-slavery activist and writer. Mundy
Branch Library, 1204 S. Geddes St., Syracuse. Free.
(315) 435-3797.
Teen Anime Night. 6-8 p.m. Teens can come
and talk about anime. Cosplay is okay, but library
staff must approve. Liverpool Public Library, 310
Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

Thursday, Feb. 15
Terrific Thursdays. 11 a.m. Homeschooled stu-

dents in K-grade 12 and accompanying adults can
find out all about recycling with OCRRA’s Theresa
Evans. Learn what happens to recyclables once
they leave the curb. Community Library of DeWitt
and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville.
Free. Registration required: CLDandJ.org. (315)
446-3578.

ages 5-10 and a caregiver can work on a creative
project together. Community Library of DeWitt
and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville.
Free. Registration required: CLDandJ.org. (315)
446-3578.

ple age 7 and up can take a hike through the woods
to a cabin and a fire, drink hot cocoa, and hear
stories. Snowshoes provided. Baltimore Woods
Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus.
$9. (315) 673-1350. baltimorewoods.org.

versity hosts a session that focuses on the stories
of the Pinkney Family, an African-American family
who turned children’s books into the family business. Open to all ages. Beauchamp Branch Library,
2111 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3395.

Technology Alliance of Central New York presents
a talk on the subject of the history of oxygen on
Earth. The talk is geared toward middle school
students, who must be accompanied by an adult.
Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500
S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Free.
Register by email: jrcafe@tacny.org.

STEAM at Petit. 2-4 p.m.; also Feb. 21, 22, 23 & 24.
Every day, kids can take part in a different activity, from
making slime to building a structure using gumdrops and
toothpicks. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3636.
Adinkra Symbols. 2 p.m. Children age 5 and up will

create their own version of the symbols by making stamps
out of various craft materials. Beauchamp Branch Library,
2111 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3395.

Game On. 3 p.m. Young people in grades 3-8 can bring
their friends and play board and video games and on the
library’s Wii and iPads. Refreshments served. Community
Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road,
Jamesville. Free. CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.

Snowflake Bentley. 2 p.m. Kids age 5 and up can join a
staffer from Baltimore Woods Nature Center to discover
if any two snowflakes are alike. Dress warmly for a walk
outdoors. Central Library, KidSpace, 447 S. Salina St.,
Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.
Snowshoe Adventure. 2 p.m. People age 10 and up

(who must bring their own snowshoes) can trek around
the library grounds and then go inside for a snack. Adults
are encouraged to snowshoe with their kids. Community
Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road,
Jamesville. Free. CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.

“drive-in” movie experience with a car you
make out of a cardboard box; for kids ages 3-10.
Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville,
5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. Registration
required: CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.

Calming class leads participants through gentle
flow and breath work in postures adapted to the
pregnant body. All levels welcome. $15/session.
buddhafulbelliescny.com.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time. Thursdays, 5 p.m.

Members of the community can join in making
more than a hundred bagged lunches to hand
out to the hungry and homeless in downtown
Syracuse. The Road, 4845 W. Seneca Turnpike,
Syracuse. Free. (315) 218-6066. wholelygroundsattheroad.org.

Daily, dawn to dusk. Throughout the year, visitors
can grab their walking shoes and explore 4.5 miles
of well-groomed, flat trails. Trails feature a 900foot boardwalk, osprey nesting platform, and wetland and grassland restoration areas. The area is a
stop for many migratory waterfowl and songbirds;
other wildlife include muskrats and beavers. Great
Swamp Conservancy, 3.5 miles off I-90, Exit 34,
8375 N. Main St., Canastota. Free. (315) 697-2950.

Upstate’s Breast Care Center is the only
center in the region to oﬀer a full range of
services for patients with breast care needs.
With on-site imaging, quick appointments and
access to unique programs, Upstate’s multidisciplinary team approach provides patients
with individualized care options that include: